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Time Clock Rounding Calculator

Round work hours for payroll and time tracking

Round Time Clock Hours

Hours (0-23)

Minutes (0-59)

The 15-minute rule: rounds to nearest 15-minute increment

What is Time Clock Rounding?

Time clock rounding simplifies payroll by rounding clock-in and clock-out times

Must be applied neutrally to comply with Department of Labor (DOL) regulations

Common Rounding Increments

  • 5-minute rounding: Rounds to nearest 5 minutes (e.g., 8:37 → 8:35)
  • 6-minute rounding (1/10 hour): Most common for decimal payroll
  • 15-minute rounding: Rounds to nearest quarter hour (e.g., 8:37 → 8:30)
  • 30-minute rounding: Rounds to nearest half hour

The 7-Minute Rule (15-minute rounding)

When rounding to 15-minute increments:

  • • Minutes 0-7 → Round DOWN to :00
  • • Minutes 8-22 → Round UP to :15
  • • Minutes 23-37 → Round DOWN to :30
  • • Minutes 38-52 → Round UP to :45
  • • Minutes 53-59 → Round DOWN to :00 (next hour)

Rounding Examples

Actual Time5-Min Round6-Min Round15-Min Round
8:028:008:008:00
8:138:158:128:15
8:378:358:368:30
8:448:458:428:45
8:578:559:009:00

Time Clock Rounding: Legal Guidelines

Time clock rounding is a payroll practice where employee work hours are rounded to the nearest specified increment for easier time tracking and wage calculation. While legal under U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) regulations, it must be applied fairly and consistently.

DOL Requirements for Legal Time Rounding

  • Neutral Application: Rounding must average out over time (not favor employer)
  • Consistent Policy: Same rounding rules for all employees
  • Reasonable Increments: Typically 5, 6, 10, or 15 minutes maximum
  • Both Directions: Must round both up and down, not always in one direction
  • Documentation: Clear policy documented and communicated to employees

Common Use Cases

Clock-In Times

Employee arrives at 8:03 AM → Rounds to 8:00 AM (favors employee)

Clock-Out Times

Employee leaves at 5:08 PM → Rounds to 5:00 PM (favors employer)

Decimal Payroll Systems

Use 6-minute (1/10 hour) increments for easy decimal conversion

Lunch Break Tracking

Round break start and end times consistently

Potential Issues to Avoid

  • Never round only in employer's favor (always round down)
  • Don't use excessively large increments (over 15 minutes)
  • Ensure policy doesn't systematically reduce employee pay
  • Keep records showing rounding averages out fairly
  • Consider state-specific regulations (some states have stricter rules)